Audio of Past Commencement Ceremonies

The traditional "charge" to graduating
seniors has been given in Storrs since 1883 when the first
six boys graduated with two-year certificates in agriculture.
Recordings of undergraduate ceremonies exist from the early
1980s to the present with a few rare exceptions. The oldest
recording available is from 1963. Additional audio, and
in some cases, complete addresses, from other years will
be added as they are retrieved from the University's archival
recordings.

Winter Commencement ceremonies were held in December from 2004-2008, and
audio for most of those ceremonies is available.

Gov. Raymond Baldwin (R-Conn. 1939-1941, 1943-1946) signed
the legislation that turned Connecticut State College into
the University of Connecticut in 1939. He spoke at the
first commencement presided over by President Homer D.
Babbidge (1962-1972). The ceremony was held outdoors in
Memorial Stadium on a hot day in June.

Clifton R. Wharton, president of Michigan State University (1970-1978),
was the first African American president of a major U.S.
university. In his address at UConn, he cautioned the graduates'
expectations of guaranteed security that was characteristic
of the 1960s.

Oakes Ames, president of Connecticut College (1974-1988), spoke
about the dangers of nuclear war [Clip #1], but was optimistic
about the future [Clip #2]. He cautioned against violent
protest, favoring civil debate.

Douglas Edwards was a CBS news anchor who preceded Walter Cronkite
on the network's evening news broadcast. He offered fatherly
advice to the graduates [Clip #1] and a measured but optimistic
view of the world [Clip #2].

Musician-comedian Victor Borge, a long-time supporter
of the University for whom a fine arts scholarship was
named, received an honorary degree at the 1983 Graduate
Commencement ceremony. He spoke briefly after receiving
the honorary degree. He was introduced by UConn President
John A. DiBiaggio.

Formerly with Hartford's
CBS affiliate WFSB, Randall Pinkston was White House
correspondent for CBS News during the administration
of George H. W. Bush. While working in Hartford, he
earned his law degree at the UConn School of Law.

Peter Guber, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Sony Entertainment/ColuMBia
Pictures (1989-1995), received an honorary degree
in fine arts during the undergraduate ceremony. His advice
to graduates had to do with rapidly changing technoloy
and how it would affect the future and especially the lives
of the graduates.

Sanford Cloud, a former
Connecticut Senator (1977-1980), president and
CEO of The National Conference for Community and Justice
(1994-2004), spoke at the afternoon ceremony. He challenged
the graduates to work for social justice for everyone.

Robert Fiondella, chair, president and CEO of Phoenix Home Life
Mutual Insurance (1994-2001), and a meMBer of
the Class of 1968, UConn School of Law,gave a personal
talk, about the support of his parents and family throughout
his career. He advised the graduate about making life choices
[Clip #1], and shared some of his own Clip #[2].

David McCullough,
a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author
(Truman, John Adams), and narrator/host of public television's "The
American Experience", advised graduates to continue
their education through reading.

U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn. 1981-2011) offered advice on
five qualities common to successful people, including sharing
success with others -- while resisting retaliation;
and he cited another quality of successful people - failure
[Clip #1]. He also cited many firsts
that have occurred in Connecticut - first public library,
first written constitution, first school for the
disabled, and others [Clip #2].

Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education (2001-2005), said
no society in history has had the the goal of Leave No
Child Behind [Clip #1]. Paige
also told the graduates to show the world the
quality of their UConn education [Clip #2].

John G. Rowland, governor of Connecticut (1995-2004), presented the
graduates with four principals of personal responsibility
- which were the main topic of his address. He also
challenged the students to change society [Clip #1] and
projected their future [Clip #
2].

Les Payne, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and editor and columnist,
and UConn alumus (Class of 1964) urged graduating seniors
to avoid the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - indifference.
Payne gave advice about dealing with a tight
job market [Clip #1] and told students that they must
go now and making things better for those who come after
them [Clip #2].

Dr. John W. Rowe, head of Aetna Inc., and chair of the University
of Connecticut's Board of Trustees (2003 - 2009), gave the
graduates advice from his own life experiences.

2004: December - Franklin Chang-Diaz Audio Unavailable

Franklin Chang-Diaz, engineer, physicist and former NASA astronaut (1980-2005) and
UConn alumnus (Class of 1973), told the graduates "There's
a whole universe out there to be discovered. The first
human to walk on Mars is already living and may be sitting
in this auditorium."

Eduardo Aguirre, first director of U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (2003-2005) and U. S.
aMBassador to Spain and Andorra (2005-2009). He told the graduates
that, fresh from their student days, they should
remeMBer to serve others and to give back .

Robert Ballard, marine scientist and undersea explorer, told the
graduates that the "
journey is not over once your goal is reached, your dream
fulfilled, the truth attained. The
journey is never over until you share what you have learned
with others."

Fay Weldon, author (The Life and Loves of a She-Devil), essayist,
and playwright, told the graduates that life is one long
assignment "to deliver with the best will, and the
best results, that you possibly can."

2007: December - Due to inclement weather, the 2007 Winter Commencement
was not held.

Dennis M. McCarthy is the retired chairman, CEO and president of Fidelity
Management Trust Co., a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments,
one of the world’s
leading providers of financial services. He earned a bachelor’s
degree at UConn in 1964, and a master’s degree in 1965

Michael Turvey is an emeritus professor of psychology who is nationally
known for his work in perception and coordinated movement. Turvey,
who came to UConn in 1967, has won dozens of awards, including the
Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor award in 2000 and the
Alumni Association Distinguished Professor award in 1994.

Ernie Zirakzadeh, a professor of political science, has been with UConn for more than two decades. His work over the years has examined the origins, activities, and evolution of social movements in Western and Central Europe, and in Latin and North America. He has been director of the Honors Program and twice was elected chair of the Executive Committee of the University Senate.

Mia Farrow has appeared in more than 40 films in addition to work
on the stage and television. She is also known as an unrelenting
advocate for human rights, with her primary focus on conflict-affected
regions of sub-Sahran Africa. During the ceremony, she also
received an honorary degree, presented by Provost Peter J. Nicholls.

Dannel P. Malloy is the 88th governor of the State of Connecticut.
After serving as an assstant district attorney in Brooklyn,
NY, Malloy returned to his hometown of Stamford where he served
on the Board of Education and then, for 14 years, he served
as mayor. He was elected governor in 2010.